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HB 1820

County Officers - As introduced, requires a person elected or appointed to the office of constable on or after August 1, 2030, to have graduated from a Tennessee POST-approved certified law enforcement training academy; excludes a person who has held the office of constable for one complete term and is reelected to the office of constable on or after August 1, 2030, from the requirement of graduating from a Tennessee POST-approved certified law enforcement training academy. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 8 and Title 38.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Lowell Russell

Tennessee bill requiring new constables after August 2030 to complete certified law enforcement training academy, exempting one-term incumbents seeking reelection.

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Bill Summary · HB 1820

Legislative bill overview

HB 1820 requires newly elected or appointed constables in Tennessee to complete graduation from a POST-approved certified law enforcement training academy, effective August 1, 2030. The bill exempts incumbents who have served one complete term and seek reelection from this training requirement.

Why is this important

Constables are elected county officers with law enforcement duties, and this bill establishes baseline professional qualifications for new constables while the field transitions. The staggered implementation allows current constables to continue without retraining while raising standards for future candidates.

Potential points of contention

  • Grandfather clause equity: Experienced constables without formal training can continue indefinitely, while new constables face mandatory academy requirements, creating two-tier professional standards
  • Incumbent advantage: The exemption for reelected constables may reduce competitive pressure on current office holders to pursue professional development
  • Implementation timeline: The August 2030 start date provides advance notice but may still create workforce challenges if multiple constables must simultaneously complete academy training

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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